Today we’d like to introduce you to Matt Green.
Hi Matt, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My fitness journey began back in 2007. I grew up a very skinny, thin kid. Standing 5’11” at 145 lbs. at the age of 26, I had always seen myself differently inside and, honestly, was tired of being picked on and called names all my life growing up. I was always active and healthy: playing soccer, hiking, and backpacking, but I never worked out or knew anything about weightlifting.
In 2005, I accepted a job where I had the privilege of spending almost every day for three years with the greatest fitness icon ever. Working for Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in the capacity that I did allow me to get to know him personally and learn a lot from him. From his business sense to his passion for many things, such as real estate, boots, and cigars, but mostly his true love of fitness and educating people about healthy living. I walked into a 24-Hour Fitness in Roseville, California, and have been going six days a week ever since. This is truly a passion and lifestyle for me. I am passionate about helping others achieve their goals, whatever they may be, focusing on health, nutrition, and balanced supplementation. Working as the Director of Market Development for Woodbolt Distribution, an international sports nutrition and dietary supplements company, has taken me deep into the supplement world. I’ve helped design, launch, and market some of the fastest-rising supplements in the industry, from Cellucor’s C4 to NO3 Chrome.
Products such as these have fueled me during my journey, and I love the value they add to other individuals’ aspirations. My goals now have moved me from behind the scenes to in front of the camera, where I can share my journey/transformation and provide motivation, inspiration, and support to others on their health and fitness journeys.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No, with anything in life, the most rewarding things are the most challenging. When I left Texas after graduating from Baylor, many questioned why I would do that. Go to Washington, DC, and work for President George W Bush. Well, my gut told me it was the right thing to do; many of my friends at the time, and to this day, never left Texas or lived anywhere else. The struggles and people who doubt you allowed me to understand myself better and appreciate the small things and my roots! Life takes you on many journeys or at least has for me, and I would not have been able to travel the world or meet and work for world leaders without me leaving and trusting myself to know my gut and do what I felt was right.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My world and work are based on trust. You can describe my professional and somewhat personal life as an Influential leader with expertise working with C-Level executives, diplomats, heads of state, and other high-profile individuals. I can quickly build trust with these levels of executives or high-profile individuals and establish credibility and my role as an advisor/consultant. My early career started in the White House as an Advance Representative for President Bush (#43). I would travel in advance of the President and design and produce everything you see on television when the President goes to an event. On the day of the event, I would act as a director of the event. I was briefing him and other principal individuals. That led years later to a special assignment at the Department of State, where I was the Lead Protocol Officer and Advance Representative for the G8 Summit to two other world leaders. Tact and diplomacy were key in those roles as I represented the President of the United States to these countries we hosted but also had to have their leader’s best interests at hand.
During the 2004 Bush / Cheney Campaign, I was a lead Advance Representative to the Vice President. I went on to organize and lead with 3 others the “official proceedings” of the 55th Presidential Inauguration for the President and Mrs. Bush. After the inauguration, Governor Schwarzenegger’s office called me and asked if I would like to move to California and do what I was doing as the President. Still, for the Governor of California, to make a long story short, I flew out to meet Governor Schwarzenegger, and we hit it off. The man helped change my life over the next 3 years. I traveled daily with Governor Schwarzenegger as his Deputy Director of Advance. Though we parted ways professionally, Arnold and I remained friends. After a short stint as the travel aide to the Secretary of Defense, I moved into the Tech C Level executive work managing strategic relationships and events for Larry Ellison, Mark Hurd, and Safra Catz. Through my 10 years in tech, Arnold and I spent some time together as I got into the fitness publication world. I was writing for fitness publications globally and fitness modeling. Life did come full circle; now, 17 years later, I am still helping Arnold when he needs me at events and functions such as his Schwarzenegger Institute at USC. Whether President Bush, Secretary Gates, President Saleh of Yemen, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, or His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, I have found that it is all about relationships and trust.
Networking and finding a mentor can positively impact one’s life and career. Any advice?
Great question. Be transparent, host with someone you have worked with, admire and go into it with true intentions. Relationships are a two-way thing. The other person’s “mentor” needs to feel that they benefit from this relationship.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mattgreen-fitness.com/
- Instagram: MattGreenFitness
- Facebook: MattGreenFitness
Image Credits
Per Bernal
